My Marriage Can Vote

Eighteen years ago today, this happened. My wife and I were married, in a church and everything, in Pensacola, Florida, at two in the afternoon, which today will be about the time I get out of class.

Since then, we've lived in five cities, six apartments, and three houses. We have two kids (when we weren't supposed to be able to have any) four years apart from each other, born in two different states. As I write this, the house is covered in the trappings of recent joys and projects, with Abby's birthday balloon arch and painting easel still competing for space with Christie's Master's Degree banner and Max's honor roll certificate. We drag a lot of the Spring into the Summer with us, typically.

As of today, I've been married for five years longer than my parents were, a milestone that's rapidly becoming a fading dot in a tinted rearview mirror as we head confidently into the future. The last eighteen years have been a journey, and there are parts of it that haven't been easy, but those people that tell you "marriage is work?" I guess, but when you love your job, it's pretty easy work, and work that doesn't seem like much work. We've watched most of our friends get married over the last several years, and we're on deck to watch some more tie the knot this year. I can only hope they get to be as happy with each other as we are.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to brag on my lovely wife and our marriage together, an evolving relationship with growing people that works, and works well. I am in love with her, and cannot imagine that ever changing, and am glad that it will not. She brings me joy and happiness mostly every day, and I make up jokes, for that is my role in this. We never seem to have a lot, but we have a lot of fun and laughter. Also: save this date two years from now, because we're going to have to do something epic for 20, yeah?

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Eighteen years ago today, this happened. My wife and I were married, in a church and everything, in Pensacola, Florida, at two in the afternoon, which today will be about the time I get out of class.

Since then, we've lived in five cities, six apartments, and three houses. We have two kids (when we weren't supposed to be able to have any) four years apart from each other, born in two different states. As I write this, the house is covered in the trappings of recent joys and projects, with Abby's birthday balloon arch and painting easel still competing for space with Christie's Master's Degree banner and Max's honor roll certificate. We drag a lot of the Spring into the Summer with us, typically.

As of today, I've been married for five years longer than my parents were, a milestone that's rapidly becoming a fading dot in a tinted rearview mirror as we head confidently into the future. The last eighteen years have been a journey, and there are parts of it that haven't been easy, but those people that tell you "marriage is work?" I guess, but when you love your job, it's pretty easy work, and work that doesn't seem like much work. We've watched most of our friends get married over the last several years, and we're on deck to watch some more tie the knot this year. I can only hope they get to be as happy with each other as we are.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to brag on my lovely wife and our marriage together, an evolving relationship with growing people that works, and works well. I am in love with her, and cannot imagine that ever changing, and am glad that it will not. She brings me joy and happiness mostly every day, and I make up jokes, for that is my role in this. We never seem to have a lot, but we have a lot of fun and laughter. Also: save this date two years from now, because we're going to have to do something epic for 20, yeah?